They Did Move a Bedroom Eventually
But not Maya’s.
Daniel converted his small upstairs office into a nursery.
His desk moved downstairs.
It wasn’t perfect.
The nursery was smaller than Lauren wanted.
But it worked.
When the baby arrived three months later, Maya spent almost as much time in the nursery as anyone.
She loved holding her little brother.
One evening, Lauren walked in and saw Maya sitting in the rocking chair with the baby asleep against her.
On a nearby shelf was a photograph Maya had placed there herself.
It showed Maya and her mother when Maya was a baby.
Lauren picked it up.
Maya watched her.
Lauren said:
“You look like him.”
Maya smiled.
“My dad says that too.”
Lauren placed the photograph back.
This time, she didn’t put it in a box.
Six Months Later
The downstairs spare room eventually became Maya’s study room.
Ironically, she was the one who asked for it.
She wanted somewhere quieter to do homework.
Lauren laughed when Maya suggested moving some furniture.
“Are you sure I’m allowed to touch anything?”
Maya looked at her.
“Ask first.”
Lauren smiled.
“Fair.”
They weren’t suddenly best friends.
They still argued.
Maya still thought Lauren could be controlling.
Lauren still thought Maya could be stubborn.
But the difference was that neither of them pretended the other person’s place in the family required someone else to disappear.
And Daniel learned something too.
Avoiding uncomfortable conversations didn’t keep the peace.
It only meant someone else eventually made the decision for him.
